What To Do In Telluride This Summer

If your calendar is still calling for a summer break, plan a long weekend in Telluride. It might be known as a holy grail for skiers, but insiders know that the real activity is saved for the summer season.

Telluride is known mainly as a ski destination, but in the Colorado town, every weekend through September boasts its own festival, sometimes drawing as many as three times the local crowd (full-time population: around 2,500). There's something for wine enthusiasts and foodies, music for every taste (bluegrass, jazz, and chamber music), and gatherings for yogis, endurance athletes, and film buffs. (Be warned: A so-called off weekend, dubbed the Nothing Festival by locals, features a naked bike ride.)

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The heart of Telluride lies in the center of a box canyon surrounded by the San Juan Mountains, with a picturesque waterfall at the end of town. The town is on the National Register of Historic Places so unlike in Aspen, don't expect to grab a cup of Starbucks or shop at Ralph Lauren (though the designer doesn't mind: his own 17,000-acre private Double RL ranch is a just half-hour away). Let the local, independent stores entice you with their unique mix of chic Western wear (Telluride Trappings & Toggery), outdoor essentials (Jagged Edge Outfitters), and adorably named specialty assortments (Between the Covers bookstore and Over the Moon Fine Foods).

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Take in the breathtaking scenery (including the peaks made famous on Coors Light cans) as you fly fish, hike, bike, or golf. From town, challenge yourself on foot or bike and head to Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest free-falling waterfall in Colorado, and test your vertigo when you see the private residence and historic power plant that teeters above it. A free 15-minute solar-powered gondola ride connects town with Mountain Village (whose kid residents take the gondola to school), where golfers can tee off from what's believed to be the highest elevation course in the country at the par 70 Telluride Golf Club, a semi-private club where non-members can play between 10:30am and 6pm. Mountain Village, only incorporated as a town in 1995, affords its own awesome views, nestled in the mountains at 9,540 feet.

Stay at the Hotel Madeline, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, and activities are literally outside your door. (Its accommodations range from elegantly appointed rooms and suites to 4-bedroom condos with kitchens.) If the altitude or jetlag wakes you up early, it's easy to sneak in a hike up Ridge Trail to get the day started. If you're hoping to unwind, or need to combat the effects of the dry air, indulge in a Gemstone Ritual at the Spa, where the Bunnie Gulick's locally "wildcrafted" ISUN skincare product line will restore senses and balance. Better still, book a couple's treatment in one of the two private rooms complete with a fireplace, soaking tub and, of course, view of the mountains. For another type of treat, hydrate with a Blackberry Crush cocktail next door at Smak, or its famous Bloody Mary with slider, and don't miss the individual s'mores for a perfect afternoon or late-night pick-me-up.